Tully Jr. and Earl live on their father's Nebraska ranch, proud and independent to a fault. While the shy, reclusive Earl spends his free time watching movies, the cockier Tully works his way through a succession of short-term affairs and an off-again, on-again relationship with April, a stripper in town. When their childhood friend Ella returns to town to start a veterinary practice, however, Tully falls for her — although the townsfolk have their doubts that he could ever commit to one woman.
Acting
Julianne Nicholson's steady gaze says everything Tully can't.
Cinematography
Golden hour never looked this lonely.
Writing
Dialogue so sparse you'll read silences like subtitles.
Director
Hilary Birmingham
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Hilary Birmingham's only feature film; she won the Grand Jury Prize at Slamdance but never directed another movie. Indie cinema's great disappearing act.
Shot entirely in Nebraska with locals as extras, the film captures a specific post-1990s rural collapse that Hollywood usually renders as caricature. It premiered at Toronto the same year as 'About Schmidt' — two very different Nebraskas.
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